I went out to the dove/deer lease this weekend. I planned on a Saturday morning dove shoot and Saturday eve/Sun morning bowhunt. So I only brought a couple boxes of #8 shells...my standard shells. I get my limit Sat morning. The skeeters drove me nuts Saturday evening on the bowstand so I decided to dove hunt Sunday morning. But I only had a half box of shells. A nice guy in Seymour sold me a couple boxes of #9 shells. This is for a 20g O/U. I knocked the snot out of the dove this morning with them. First time I ever shot #9.

I'm convinced good shooting skills trump the shells one uses.....by ALOT. That said, just give me some #7.5 thru #9 shells and I'm good to go.

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“He grouped his last five shots right in the center of the bull’s-eye. Then I showed him my technique of scattering shots randomly around the target because, as I explained, you never know which way the deer might jump just as you pull the trigger.”

I ain't letting a few bucks ruin a hunt. I like high brass full power loads, and prefer Fiochi. I usually start the season with 7 1/2's and then progress to 6's as the dove get fewer, faster, and smarter...

12ga 7/8oz #8's if I can find them. Guys it's not the shells it's your ability to shoot. I have tested just about every load and choke combo, I'm telling you that they really have nothing to do with your dove hunting success. It's your ability or lack there of. I shoot just as good with a cylinder 9's or mod 7.5's. Go pratice and don't worry about shells or chokes I was shooting 5 stand yesterday and we had a crossing rt to left about 38yds shooting into a stiff breeze. I was hitting that shot with a IC #9's I put in my skeet choke and guess what I still hit the clay. The guy next to me swore up and down that I was shooting 6's because it was so windy. Just take some time and go pratice

I tried the Rio's last year and they seemed to do alright. I normally do like Sig and start with 7 1/2 and then move to 6 later. 6 seems to knock 'em dead with less cripples... at least that's my experience. As far as choke I normally run a light modified which falls between IC and Modified. Seems to work pretty good. Grew up with a fixed barrel modified wingmaster and it worked good too.